WORKING THE CROWD: From left, David Piggot of Concrete Technology Miami, attorney Jim Roen, Jan Hurley of Hurley Health Resources, computer consultant Wilson Alvarez and Al Deshon of BankUnited discussed the importance of proper networking at the Miami Business Exchange.

Most people join networking organizations to find new customers, but that's only one of the benefits.

You also will find new vendors you can trust, both for your business and your personal life. If you see a person regularly at meetings, he or she is not likely to cheat you. In fact, you will probably get extra special service and probably even a discount.

Also, you will get access to free expert advice. You will get to know lawyers, accountants, bankers, Realtors, plumbers, painters and printers, and everyone will be happy to sit down with you. Who knows? Maybe it will turn into new business for them.

"Getting the Most Out of Networking" was the subject of a brainstorming session I had recently with members of the Miami Business Exchange, a leads group that meets every Thursday for breakfast at the Beverly Hills Café in South Miami.

We talked about common networking errors. There are dozens of them, but most puzzling is why people join an organization, pay dues and never go to a meeting. Then they complain that no new business has come their way. What did they expect?

Another common mistake is for a company to send a different person to the meeting each time, rather than allowing one person to become a familiar face. Also, several people from the same company sitting together at a meeting, instead of splitting up and making new friends. Then there is the error of arriving just as the meeting is beginning, rather than a half-hour early to get in some effective pre-meeting networking.

One big sin is collecting business cards and ignoring the opportunity they present. Do you have a stack of cards on your desk with no idea who these people are? After a meeting, jot down a few notes on the back on the business card. Where did you meet? What did the person look like? What did you talk about? Just a word or two to remind you. Then, within the next couple of days, call or send an e-mail: nice meeting you, let's get together for coffee or lunch and get better acquainted.

The question I get most often as I make the rounds of networking groups is: "Which organizations should I join?"

The answer is that there are so many organizations because there are so many different needs, and you have to experiment until you find the ones that are right for you.

But you can limit the possibilities with a few simple questions. When does the organization meet? If you like to get your networking out of the way so it doesn't interfere with your busy day, then a morning group such as the Miami Business Exchange is for you. But if the thought of a 7:30 a.m. meeting is painful, then look to a lunch or an after-hours group.

Where does the group meet? If it's not convenient, you will not go on a regular basis.

What's the cost? You can belong to organizations with no dues and no meeting costs, such as the Perrine Cutler Ridge Council, or to organizations costing many hundreds in dues with expensive meetings.

Lunches at $35 are not unusual, for example, and I've seen lunch prices at $70 on occasion. There seems to be a shift in the crowd at a lunch price of $20.

Higher than that, the audience seems to be mostly from large organizations that reimburse for expenses. Those who are self-employed and have to pay their own way tend to say: ``What! How much?''

Also, groups form around themes. Many are based on geography, for example. But no matter the theme, most groups welcome anyone who might bring new business to the members.

Just about all of the women's networking groups, for example, welcome men, and if you look at the membership rosters of the Pinecrest or Palmetto Bay business associations, you will find that many members -- probably more than half -- neither live nor work in those communities.

I did suggest to the members of the Miami Business Exchange that they watch the long calendar that appears every other Thursday with this column as they look for additional organizations to join.

That's the intent of the column, to help business people identify networking organizations that might be good for them. I see people walking around with photocopies in their pocket, circling groups to try.

This column is a free place for organizations to publicize their events, and from this list I choose which meetings to attend, which organization to feature.

Web designer Carol Simicich of Artege.com, my pen-pal at the Miami Business Exchange, said it takes about five minutes every other week to send me the calendar listing.

Which means that if an organization is not sending a listing, it either doesn't understand the value of publicity for its members, or can't get organized enough to find five minutes every other week.

So if you are approached to join a group that doesn't appear in the column, ask why. You may find that your dollars and time would be better invested elsewhere.